In the past, Thailand’s waterways offered the fastest means of travel over great distances, and, at a time when much of the land was covered in forests, navigating by water was often an easier means of reaching a destination than was travel over land. Bangkok was developed around a series of canals, its streets and roadways virtually nonexistent in the early days, when it was sometimes referred to as “the Venice of the East.” Today, most of Bangkok’s canals are gone, having been filled and replaced by paved thoroughfares. But in some other areas of the country canals continue to serve useful purposes.

Floating Markets

The intersection of two canals in a largely rural area of Samut Songkhram Province, southwest of Bangkok, is the site of the floating market at Tha Kha. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the principal items for sale, but other vendors offer prepared food dishes—and even plants, as seen here.

A dwelling along the principal canal at Tha Kha

Another canal-side dwelling along a secondary canal

Among this seller's offerings are mangoes, durian, and dragon fruit.

This very precarious-looking footbridge spans the canal at Tha Kha.

Noodles seller making a sale

At Muang Boran, the Ancient City, in Samut Prakan

A cornucopia of both fresh and prepared fruits is available at the floating market at Damnoen Saduak, near Bangkok. Here are rose apples, Thai guava, sapodilla, and other fruits.

A boat filled with star fruit, oranges, papaya, and rose apples. The woman on the right is preparing khanom bueng, Thai crepes or crispy pancakes. They're usually made with mungbean or rice flour, eggs, and coconut cream, with toppings of salty shredded shrimp or sweet shredded coconut.